Want to meet the person who may be your next pastor or Christian day school teacher? This series profiles the men and women who are preparing for the public teaching and preaching ministry at our immanuel lutheran college and seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Age: 22

Program: Education

Year in School: Senior

Where were you born?

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Where did you grow up?

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Married? Unmarried? Tell us about your family.

I am the oldest of the five children of Steve and Eve Naumann. I married Kenny Winters last September. We hope to start a family, as God wills, in the near future.

What hobbies, sports, or extracurriculars interest you?

I love photography and have my own amateur photography business going. I love to do stand-up paddleboard. I play basketball and volleyball, and also do crafts.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.

I went to Nepal on a mission trip right after I graduated from Immanuel High School. This was probably the final “big push” that convinced me that I wanted to be a teacher and work with kids.

Which academic subjects especially interest you?

I really enjoyed Dogmatics; it made me think hard about doctrines and teaching I’d previously taken for granted. I also loved art, and the children’s literature course.

How did you first come to consider the public teaching or preaching ministry as a career?

I had amazing teachers, and relatives who were teachers, when I was going through school. I looked up to them. They helped me through some of the most important times of my life and taught me from the firmest foundation: God’s Word. I remember giving it some serious thought after my third grade teacher told me that she thought I would make a good teacher. Since then, it has always remained in the forefront of my mind. Everything I loved or wanted to get into could go back to teaching. God has used His gentle guiding hand to lead me to my decisions. He made it clear to me that there was a need, and made me eager to fill it.

What have you appreciated most about your time at ILC?

The things I appreciated most were the moments spent in Christian fellowship and the Word. I love the Christmas chapel we have, and the chapel services in general. I have appreciated immensely the hard work, advice, and ever-listening ears of the professors. They have been a tremendous support for me as I have made my way through the education program, and have pushed me to my limits to fulfill the potential they saw in me. I also appreciate how loving and supportive the Messiah school and congregation is. Their support of and help with the student teaching program has made me a much more confident teacher.

What qualities do you think will most be needed by the future leaders of the church?

I think the future leaders of the church will need to be strong, gentle, and diligent. Strong, because the world is very evil; it is becoming harder and harder for Christians to be free in our religion. We need to remain strong in our faith, and encourage others in the same. We need to be gentle, not letting our selfish, sinful flesh get the best of us and influence us to exert ourselves over each other, becoming offended by each other in trivial matters. We want others to see our gentle, but strong lights, and see the hope that is in us as a welcome and a true hope! Finally, we must be diligent because the world will try to tell us we are wrong, so we should be digging into the Word daily and eagerly to learn more and have a better understanding of the Bible.